The Morongo Band of Mission Indians announced it will expand its gaming space, build a new bar and lounge and freshen up existing amenities at the resort.

Morongo currently has 150,000 square feet of gaming space and plans to add 65,000 square feet to that footprint, adding 800 new machines and table games.

The project includes overhauls and replacements of several of the resort’s eateries as well as building a second parking structure, which will add 750 free valet parking spaces.

“At Morongo, our goal is always to exceed the expectations of our guests by offering an unmatched gaming and resort experience,” Robert Martin, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians’ tribal chairman said in a statement. “From our many new dining options to the elegance and aura of our gaming floor, this expansion and renovation project will transform the very heart of the 27-story Morongo Casino tower – the tallest building in Riverside County – while setting the new standard for Southern California gaming.”

Construction on the project is scheduled to begin in October and will take about 18 months to complete.

In order to allow guests to continue to play favorite games during the renovations, some machines will be temporarily relocated to the original Casino Morongo, located across the parking lot from the 27-story resort. The original property is currently home to the Canyon Lanes Bowling Alley and the Morongo Bingo Hall.

“An increase in the tribe’s economic activities not only creates increased employment opportunities, but it also generates local expenditures by Morongo’s guests and citizens that benefit surrounding communities,” Riverside County Supervisor Marion Ashley, who represents Cabazon, said in an emailed statement.

The tribe said the expansion will create an additional 425 new full-time jobs.

Morongo’s announcement is the latest in a busy year of construction and remodeling for Southern California casinos.

“Individually and collectively, these expansion projects mark an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars into Riverside County,” Ashley said in the statement. “They provide enormous direct and indirect benefits to our economy, creating local jobs and economic activity while also promoting Riverside County as a tourism destination.”

Soboba Casino’s construction of its new resort — located about a mile up the road from its current location in San Jacinto — will include a six-story hotel with 200 rooms, a 15,000-square foot conference center and a pool complex in addition to restaurants, bars and banquet facilities. It is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2019.

And just south of Temecula in San Diego County, Pala Casino Spa & Resort began its expansion project in October 2017 with the renovation on its pool complex, which opened in May. While casino officials suspended construction plans for a new hotel tower, remodeling of the current hotel rooms is scheduled to begin in October.

Stephanie Schulte has covered everything from travel, crime, food and entertainment since 2006. Her first assignment was writing a feature story on Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini for Amy Blanc Elementary School in Northern California and she never looked back. Schulte enjoys playing piano (not very good), hiking, hanging with her family and friends and watching Three's Company re-runs.